POLYNEMID^. 319 



Fam. 13. POLYNEMID^E. 



Percoidei, pt., Cuv. Regne Anim. and Cuv. ^ Val. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. 



iii. p. 362 ; MiJller, Berl Ahhandl. 1844, p. 201. 

 PohTiemidje, pt., Richards. 



Body compressed and oblong, covered with scales, feebly ciliated 

 or without serratiire. Lateral line continuous, continued on the tail. 

 Mouth at the lower side of the snout, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, 

 large. Seven branchiostegals ; pseud obranchiae. Villi form teeth in 

 the jaws and on the palate. Two separate dorsals, — the second, the 

 caudal, and the anal fin more or less covered with minute scales. 

 Several Jtli form appendages below the pectoral fin, entirely free and 

 articidated. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays. The 

 bones of the head with the muciferous system well developed. Air- 

 bladder varying in form and structure, and sometimes wanting. 



Tropical regions of the Atlantic; East Indian Seas, to the Pacific. 

 Entering rivers. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Vomerine teeth ; the anal equals the soft dorsal 1. Polynemus. 



The anal much longer than the soft dorsal 2. Pentanemus. 



No vomerine teeth ; the anal equals the soft dorsal 3. Galeoides. 



1. POLYNEMUS*. 



PoljTiemus, L. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 521. 

 PoljTiemus, sp., Cuv. ^ Val. iii. p. 362. 



Two separate dorsals, the first with seven or eight spines ; all the 

 spines feeble ; the soft dorsal and the anal fin nearly equal. In both 

 jaws, on the vomer, the palatine and pterygoid bones, bands of villi- 

 form teeth. Prseoperculum serrated. Scales moderate or rather 

 small. Pyloric appendages sometimes in immense number. Air- 

 bladder of variable structure and size, if present. 



East Indian Seas and South Sea. Tropical parts of the Atlantic. 

 Entering rivers. 



* 1. Polynemus microstoma, Blccier, Celeh. i. p. 217. — Sea of Bulucomba. 

 2. diagrammicus, Bleeker, Perc. p. 60. — Batavia. 



